6 Designer Pied-a-Terres You Can Buy Right Now

In its literal translation, the French expression pied-à-terre means “a foot on the ground.” When it comes to New York real estate, a pied-à-terre often refers to an apartment designated for occasional use, serving as a temporary abode for business activities or more leisurely affairs, such as attending a Broadway show. A pied-à-terre by this definition can be found in any major city, of course, giving wealthy non-primary homeowners an opportunity to get a taste of the culture and excitement of urban life – whether it’s exploring museums, indulging in shopping, or savoring five-star dining experiences – without a long commute back home.

With that in mind, we’ve collected several posh apartments and condos from the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program that allow affluent individuals to put their well-heeled feet to the ground in the most stylish way possible.

250 W 71st Street Unit House
New York, NY.
$ 11,950,000

This meticulously gut-renovated and never-lived-in townhouse places you right in the heart of the coveted Upper West Side, in the West End Collegiate Historic District. Designed in 1892 by one of the most prominent residential architects of the time, Thom & Wilson, the sweeping 5-bedroom Renaissance Revival home was recently modernized and updated for 21st-century lifestyles. Every aspect of the home was brought up to current code, along with exquisite custom detail and luxury finishes throughout, a convenient elevator accessing levels one to five, and multiple outdoor spaces.

Listed by Annie Cion-Gruenberger and Else Wollman-Mahan of Coldwell Banker Warburg

Paris 8th, Ile De France
France
$ 4,339,372

What would be a roundup of the chicest walkable addresses for sale without a true pied-à-terre in the City of Light?  This completely renovated and furnished 2,065-square-foot apartment satisfies the Parisian fantasy in spectacular form. Perched on the third floor of a beautiful freestone building, the abode is teeming with high-end services, state-of-the-art technology, a reinforced security system and Haussmann-style details such as high ceilings, moldings, exceptional parquet floors and fireplaces that are ever-indicative Parisian chic. But best of all? It’s  ideally positioned near two iconic landmarks: the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées.

Listed by Camille Chartier of Coldwell Banker Leading Realty in Paris

1325 N Astor Street Unit 13
Chicago, IL.
$ 3,499,000

Nestled in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast on one of the city’s most famous streets and only two blocks from the lake, this historic David Adler-designed duplex will make you feel as if you are transported into what feels like a Parisian apartment. Adler, a proponent of Paris’s Ecole des Beaux-Arts, imbued the nearly 8,000-square-foot penthouse with classical symmetry, superb proportions, and resplendent architectural detailing throughout, providing an unforgettable backdrop for breathtaking views in every direction. Three outdoor terraces, six bedrooms, and six baths further elevate this “single-family home in the sky.” Convenient parking and a premier location near Chicago’s best shopping, restaurants, esteemed public and private schools, and majestic Lake Michigan make it the ultimate pied-à-terre.

Edited by: 2023 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC